The extent of the US National Security Agency's (NSA) surveillance using a computer programme called Prism to access the contents of emails and live chat held by the world's major internet companies including Google, Facebook and Skype is one of the most significant leaks in US political history. The story was first disclosed last week by investigative journalists at the Guardian – and now the whistleblower, IT specialist Edward Snowden has fled to Hong Kong in fear of reprisal from the US authorities.

Here we pull together the best news stories, multimedia, teaching resources and websites to help you make sense of the story in class and look at the wider issues of privacy and surveillance and in the English, politics and citizenship classroom as well as the debate club with your students.

A Guardian guide to your metadata – interactiveWhat is all this metadata that's generated as you use technology? Here's a revealing guide to the data collected through the activities you do every day on your computer and mobile devices.

On the Guardian Teacher Network

Debate rages on internet 'snooping' revelation This article from schools news service The Day provides a very clear explanation of the IT worker who exposed mass US surveillance of emails and phone calls otherwise known as Prism. The article includes a Q&A plus activities for schools.

Online privacy topic guideA great intro to the subject of online privacy from Debating Matters – should we really expect our activities on the internet to remain private? Everything pupils need to know for a heated debate plus extensive further reading.

Codes with Anne ListerThose worried about privacy may like to follow in the footsteps of lesbian writer Anne Lister who wrote her diaries in code, as this PowerPoint from equality campaigning group Schools Out explains. Find all parts of the code lesson here including how to make a code wheel and invisible ink.

The best of the web

Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)The website of the government agency tasked with keeping UK society safe and successful in the internet age – by providing info and intelligence and specialising in cyber security. GCHQ is one of three UK intelligence agencies – the other two being the MI5 and MI6.

National Security Agency (NSA)What do the NSA have to say about the disclosure of classified information from Edward Snowden? Unsurprisingly it isn't too happy but doesn't make such a big meal of revelations on its official website.

Big Brother WatchThe group set up to defend civil liberties and protect privacy has lots to say on the subject of Prism, the NSA and internet privacy – and the questions that it poses for the UK.

The Register's take on PrismThe British technology news and opinion website gives its take on Prism and the advice is to keep calm and carry on - Prism is not such a big deal... however Skype is no longer safe and we should keep an eye on the much more complex surveillance system the Home Office wants to install.

What is prism?Useful Q&A from the Independent explaining what prism is, what it does, is it legal and what data it can obtain.